Rosemary is one of our most popular herbs, and is used in lots of recipes.
The best substitute for Rosemary depends on 2 main items:
- Which alternative herbs you have available.
- And what recipe your want to make.
Rosemary has a unique flavour but….
It is part of the Lamiaceae family of plants that includes 3 possible alternatives: Basil, Oregano and Thyme.
The best substitute for Rosemary
Below you will find 2 different ideas for selecting what to use:
Idea 1 – Do you have alternative herbs available?
The 3 alternative herbs to consider are Thyme, Basil or Oregano. However do note that they do add a slightly different flavour to your dishes.
1a – Thyme
Thyme is probably the number 1 choice to use for rosemary. It has a toned down rosemary flavour but the closest herb is terms of similarity. Simply replace the amounts required in equal portions.
1b – Oregano
The same family as Rosemary and very popular in Mediterranean recipes. Not as good as thyme but worth considering. Again just use the same amount per recipe.
1c – Basil
The last one to consider is basil – however do use the standard Genovese basil, which is the one most often found in shops and dried herbs (as opposed to some of the more specialised Basil flavours).
1d – Italian Seasoning
Alternatively, if you don’t have any herbs available do consider using Italian seasoning – as they often include rosemary
1e – Sage, Bay and Dill
Finally for some recipes you might want to consider different herbs, more details below.
Idea 2 – What recipe are you cooking?
Rosemary is used in many different types of recipes – and the alternative used will depend on what you are cooking.
2a – Beef
If you are cooking beef (i.e. roast beef, etc.) then consider replacing it will sage. Yes sage has a slightly different flavour but works very well with Beef
2b – Lamb, Sheep or Goat
For items like Roast Lamb, etc it’s more effective to replace rosemary using a combination of 3 herbs – Bay, Mint and Thyme.
2c – Chicken or Turkey
For roast bird recipes (like roast chicken) a combination of sage and thyme is best. Replace the rosemary amount with the same amount of thyme, and then add 50% of the same amount of sage
2d – Fish
When making fish & rosemary recipes it is not easy to replace the unique flavour – you could consider using herbs like dill, parsley and maybe chives as they go well with fish.
Grow your own Rosemary ?
Maybe not today but Rosemary is really easy to grow at home. Takes very little time to look after and you will have a fresh supply 24/7. For more details follow the link below.
Tuscan blue Rosemary